String fluid controlled sleeve valve



Jan. 2, '1968 J. s. PAGE, JR

STRING FLUID CONTROLLED SLEEVE VALVE Filed Sept. 5, 1965 fm/slvrae.Jay/v 5. P465, C72.

7 /7 7 5i? finlfl wwvvu A V E J a w M j United States Patent Ofilice3,361,212 STRING FLUID CONTROLLED SLEEVE VALVE John S. Page, Jr., 2301Snowden Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90815 Filed Sept. 3, 1965, Ser. No.434,811 7 Claims. (Cl. 166-224) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thedisclosure concerns a sub-surface well valve of sleeve type, forcontrolling upward flow of well fluid in tubing and to the tubingexterior in response to changes in control fluid pressure transmitteddownwardly in the tubing string. The sleeve remains downwardly open andcentrally unobstructed, and sealing means seals off against leakage ofwell fluid from the sleeve interior to the string exterior in upposition of the sleeve.

This invention relates generally to sub-surface well valves usable tocontrol the flow of fluid in pipe or tubing. More particularly, theinvention concerns improvernent embodied in a sub-surface Well valvethat is controllable in response to changing the pressure of controlfluid in the tubing string above the valve.

It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved sub-surfacewell valve of unusually advantageous construction and mode of operation,not found in prior valves of which I am aware. Basically, the valveapparatus is connectible in a string of tubing and comprises tubularmeans having side porting through which well fluid is flowable betweenthe interior and exterior of the tubular means; structure movable withinand lengthwise of the tubular means for controlling the flow of wellfluid through the porting in response to a change in downward pressuretransmission by control fluid within the string interior, the structurehaving a first surface exposed to such downward pressure application aswell as a second surface out of communication with the first surface tobe exposed to upward pressure application exerted by well fluid flowablethrough the porting; and the structure including a sleeve movablelengthwise of the tubular means to control the well fluid flow throughthe porting. Typically, the movable structure plugs the tubular meansabove the level of the porting, the sleeve is tubular to pass the flowunobstructedly and upwardly within the sleeve interior and through asleeve side port toward the side porting in the tubular means when thesleeve is in down position, and the sleeve side port is out of flowpassing communication with side porting in the tubular means when thesleeve is in up position. As a result, an unusual degree of advantageoussimplicity is achieved, with the upward flow being generallyunobstructed as it approaches the porting; :at the same time, the valveis advantageously controllable by changing the downward pressureexertion of control fluid standing in the string above the valvestructure.

It is another object of the invention to provide sealing rings carriedto seal off between the movable structure and the tubular means aboveand below the level of the side porting in the latter when the sleeve isin a down position allowing well fluid flow only through the porting,and also when the sleeve is in an up position blocking upward flow ofwell fluid. Typically, the sealing rings sealing off between the movablestructure and tubular means in sleeve down position are confined againstdirect exposure to the well fluid flow, so that they remain protectedagainst erosion by abrasive materials in the flow. In addition, thetubular means has sealing bores protected in sleeve down position fromdirect exposure to the well fluid flow, to block erosion of those bores.

3,361,212 Patented Jan. 2, 1968 These and other objects and advantagesof the invention, as well as the details of illustrative embodiments,will be more fully understood from the following detailed description ofthe drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a typical valve apparatus connected in atubing string and installed in a well, the valve movable structureincluding the sleeve being in down or open position; and

FIG. 2 shows the FIG. 1 Valve structure in up or closed position.

In accordance with the invention, tubular means is provided to have sideporting through which well fluid is flowable between the interior andexterior thereof. As one example of this, the tubular means may includea body 10 connectible at 11 and 12 in a tubing string 13, and havingside ports 14.

Further in accordance with the invention, structure is provided formovement within and lengthwise of the tubular means for controlling theflow of well fluid through the porting in response to a change indownward pressure transmission by control fluid within the stringinterior. Typical of such movable structure is that indicated generallyat 15, having first surfaces 16a and 16b exposed to receive downwardpressure application of control fluid in the string interior 17, and asecond surface 18 out of communication with surface 17 to be exposed toupward pressure application exerted by well fluid the upward flow ofwhich is indicated by arrows 19 in FIG. 1. Surface 18 is defined by body20 having a stem 21 to which a support member 22 is coaxially attachedat 23.

The invention also contemplates that the movable structure includes asleeve unit or assembly, as for example is seen at 24, movablelengthwise of the tubular means 10 to control the well fluid through theside porting 14. Typically, the sleeve is tubular to pass the well flowunobstructedly and upwardly within the sleeve interior 70, and it has aside port or ports 25 to pass the well flow from within the sleevetoward the side porting 14 when the sleeve is in a down position as seenin FIG. 1. In this regard, the flow is not obstructed by any valve plugcontained centrally of the body 10.

Sealing rings or ring assemblies indicated generally at 27 and 28 arecarried to seal off between the structure 15 and the tubular means 10above and below the level of the porting 14 when the sleeve is in a downposition, allowing well fluid flow through the porting, as is clear fromFIG. 1. Ring 28 and an additional sealing ring 29 seal oil betweenstructure 15 and means 10 above and below the level of porting 14 whenthe sleeve is in an up position blocking well fluid flow through theporting. The ring assemblies 27, 28 and 29 are alike, their constructionbeing illustrated by that of assembly 27 comprising a sandwich formed bynon-metallic plastic or elastomer ring 30 between and bonded to twometal rings 31 and 32. Ring assembly 27 is retained on body 20 by stopring 33, and an annular spacer 34 comprising part of the sleeve 24locates the ring assemblies 28 and 29 in spaced relation on sleeve core35. A nut 36 is threaded at 37 to the core to retain the lower ringassembly 29 in position. Note that the bore 37 of the sleeve is open andunobstructed.

It is a further feature of the invention that the plastic or elastomersealing rings such :as 30 in each of the assemblies 27 and 29 areconfined against direct exposure to the well fluid flow, as is clearfrom FIG. 1. Also, the tubular body 10 has sealing bores 38 and 39protected by the rings 27 and 29 in sleeve down position against directexposure to the well fluid flow, which carries abrasive particles suchas sand. Accordingly, erosion of these parts is forestalled to preventleakage and malfunction of the valve. The bore of body It is enlarged at40 between the sealing ring assemblies in FIG. 1, to reduce obstructionto the flow at the porting locus.

A collet 50 is releasably retained in the body and supports structurefor vertical movement, the collet and structure having telescopicinterconnection at 51. In the example, a flange 52 on part 22 pilots inthe collet bore as the structure 15 shifts vertically. Thus whendownward control pressure on surfaces 16a and 16b is reducedsufficiently in relation to upward pressure on surface 18, the structureshifts upwardly to FIG. 2 position. Engagement of the flange 52 withcollet flange 54 limits downward shifting whereas engagement of ring 33with collet flange 54 limits upward shifting. Collet 50 has cantileverarms 55 spring urged outwardly to seat the lugs 56 in groove 57 formedin the bore 53 of the body 10, thereby locating the collet axially ofthe body. A suitable wire line tool is operable to latch onto the upperterminals 59 of the collet fingers for urging them inwardly to releasethe collet for upward retrieval of the valve apparatus. A shoulder 60 inbody 10 lands the collet when run into the body 10.

An annular deflector 62 has attachment to the body 10 at 63 and isspaced outwardly from side porting 14 to receive impingement of theoutward and upward flow of abrasive Well fluid. Accordingly, the wellcasing 65 is protected from abrasive erosion at the valve location.

Numeral 80 indicates a means to effect control of fluid pressurestanding in the string above the valve. Such means may for exampleinclude surface pumping apparatus.

I claim:

1. Apparatus connectible in a string of tubing in a Well, comprisingtubular means having side porting through which well fluid is flowablebetween the interior and exterior of said tubular means, structuremovable Within and lengthwise of said means for controlling the flow ofwell fluid through said porting in response to a change in downwardpressure transmission by control fluid within the string interior :andabove the level of said means, the structure having a first surfaceexposed to receive downward pressure application of control fluid and asecond surface out of communication with said first surface to beexposed to upward pressure application exerted by well fluid flowableupwardly and through said porting, and said structure including a sleevemovable lengthwise of said means to control the well fluid flow throughsaid porting, said structure plugging said tubular means above the levelof said tubular means side porting, said sleeve being downwardly openand centrally unobstructed in all sleeve positions to pass the well flowunobstructedly upwardly into the sleeve interior, said sleeve having aside port to pass the well flow from within the sleeve interior towardsaid tubular means side porting when the sleeve is in a down position,and sealing means carried to extend about the sleeve for sealing oilbetween the sleeve and tubular means and both up and down positions ofthe sleeve and both above and below the level of said tubular means sideporting, said sealing means sealing off against leakage of well fluidfrom the sleeve interior to the tubular means porting in up position ofthe sleeve.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing means includessealing rings sealing off between the structure and tubular means insleeve down position during which the rings are confined against directexposure to the well fluid flow.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the tubular means hassealing bores protected by said rings in sleeve down position fromdirect exposure to the Well fluid flow.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a collet releasablyretained in said tubular means and supporting said structure forvertical movement.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said collet and structurehave telescopic interconnection.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a well tubing stringsupporting said tubular means in a Well.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a well fluid flow deflectorspaced directly outwardly of said side porting and carried by saidtubular means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,633,916 4/1953 Barker et al.16622.4 3,054,415 9/1962 Barker et al. 166-224 3,156,300 11/1964 Barkeret al. 166-224 3,294,174 12/1966 Vincent 1 66-224 JAMES A. LEPPINK,Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,361,212January 2, 1968 John S. Page, Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Colomn 4, line 12, "and", second occurrence, should read 1n Signed andsealed this 9th day of September 1969.

"Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents :J M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAME. SCHUYLER, JR.

